"From the very first day you became a Chixiao person, you should have known that our Chixiao Sect did not fight for glory and wealth back then, but for survival, for freedom, for the right to live. That is the purpose of our Chixiao Sect, and the original intention of all us Chixiao people."
Elder Fengxu looked at Tan Tong with an immensely complicated mood. "If you sought glory and wealth, why did you join the Chixiao Sect and become a Chixiao person?"
"That is precisely why, only now, does Tan realize he took the wrong path back then."
"Heh..." Elder Fengxu shook his head with a bitter laugh. "You didn't take the wrong path. You were merely blinded by greed, by profit, by power. In the Ancient Era, the Immortal Dynasty monopolized all the world's spiritual vein resources, oppressed the common people, and made life unbearable. Forget cultivation, merely surviving was difficult for us. Back then, our only wish was to live with dignity."
"Under the Monarch's leadership, we overthrew the Immortal Dynasty. Not only could we survive, but we could live freely. In the Present Era, as days grew better and better, your ambitions began to swell. The life of today could never satisfy you... You too began to pursue glory and wealth, to chase after lofty power..."
"Hmph!" Tan Tong snorted coldly and shouted, "Fengxu, don't make yourself sound so noble! Tan does not believe you are satisfied with your current life either!"
"This old man is but a common mortal, and naturally, I am not exempt from worldly desires. There was a time when I too was dissatisfied with the status quo. However, this old man knows even better that everything we have now was bought with the lives of the Monarch and those fallen Chixiao brothers back then. To be human, one must know contentment, and even more, one must know gratitude. If one doesn't even understand these things, then they are no longer human!"
The Chixiao people from the Mingyu Branch Hall all had their faces alternating between pale and flushed at Elder Fengxu's words. The muscles at the corner of Tan Tong's mouth twitched uncontrollably twice. After a moment, he suddenly smiled again and shifted the topic. "Fengxu, do you know who the Third Prince of the Immortal Dynasty is..."
He had barely started when Fengxu cut him off. "This old man does not know, nor does he wish to know. Those who walk different paths cannot work together. From now on, you take your broad highway, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge. However...
Considering that we were once Chixiao brothers, this old man advises you to turn back before it's too late. Do not persist in error upon error. Otherwise, you will surely face retribution in the future!"
Tan Tong's expression turned very ugly, and his breathing grew heavy. "Fengxu, you should be very clear in your heart why Tan has come today. Originally, Old Master Blackhearted had already given up hope on you, but Tan, for the sake of our past ties, still wanted to come personally to persuade you. One must look forward, not stubbornly live in the past. As long as you are willing to join us, us old brothers together will surely be able to achieve great things in the future!"
As Tan Tong spoke, his palm flipped over, revealing a brocade box. Opening it, inside were over a dozen golden, radiant spirit pills. He offered it forward, saying, "These are Hua Yun Pills specially refined by the Third Prince for us Chixiao people. Once you take a Hua Yun Pill, within three to five years at most, or as little as half a year, you can fuse the Blood Fiend Gang and the Dragon-Elephant Spirit to achieve Earth Immortal."
Tan Tong held out the brocade box. Elder Fengxu snatched it and slammed it fiercely onto the ground, shouting sharply, "Nonsense! Not even a measly Earth Immortal, even achieving True Immortal, this old man wouldn't covet it! I tell you, Tan Tong, this old man Fengxu is a Chixiao person in life and a Chixiao ghost in death! In this lifetime, I will never submit to the Immortal Dynasty! If you want to be the Immortal Dynasty's running dog, go do it yourself!"
"Fengxu! Don't be so ungrateful! If you refuse today, don't blame Tan for disregarding our past brotherhood!"
"Since that's the case, then why waste more words!" Fengxu's face flushed red as he roared, "If you really have the ability, then kill every single person in the Mountain-River Branch Hall for this old man today!"
Whoosh!
Elder Luo Yi, Heng San, and the other Chixiao people immediately flashed to Elder Fengxu's side. Simultaneously, the hundred-plus elders of the Mountain-River Branch Hall all activated their Primordial Spirit Manifestations, and the disciples on the mountain swarmed to surround the grand hall.
Although the Mingyu Branch Hall had gathered many experts today—both Fated Prodigies and Ancient Earth Immortals—the disciples of the Mountain-River Branch Hall were not afraid. Because this was Fengxu Mountain. The multiple layers of formations enveloping Fengxu Mountain were not just for show. As long as these formations existed, if the Mingyu Branch Hall dared to act, they would surely ensure they came but never returned.
This point.
Tan Tong was not unaware.
But he still came.
He was well aware of the formations' power, far beyond what their current numbers could withstand. Fighting within another's formations was like a tiger entering a pack of wolves. No matter how powerful the tiger, it would be surrounded and killed by the wolf pack.
Moreover.
Liu Yue was still here. With her strength, she might not be able to handle everyone from the Mingyu Branch Hall, but since she was arranged by Old Master Black Buddha, it was certain her arrival was not merely as a lone individual. At the very least, she must have a way to deal with the Mingyu Branch Hall.
However.
Since Tan Tong dared to come today, he must have come prepared.
He had considered everything he needed to. He neither feared the multiple formations shrouding Fengxu Mountain, nor worried about whether Liu Yue had some plan.
"Fengxu, Tan asks you one last time. Do you agree or not?"
"Go back and tell Zhou Taihe, my words to him remain the same: As a Chixiao person, I would rather stand and live than kneel and survive. If you want to fight or kill, come at me! If I, Fengxu, so much as frown, then I am no Chixiao person!"
"Good! Very good! You said it yourself!"
As Tan Tong's words fell, whoosh—over a dozen Chixiao people also stepped forward. At the same time, the group of Fated Prodigies led by Lian Hao, Shang Gong, and Zhong Xing, the group of Earth Immortals led by Zhan Zhiming, and over a dozen Ancient Earth Immortals all began to radiate dazzling, brilliant light from their bodies.
Both sides were at a standoff, swords drawn and bows bent.
The scene was extremely tense.
Within the grand hall, it seemed a bloody conflict could erupt at any moment.
However.
There was something very strange.
Both sides had reached the point of confrontation, all activating their Primordial Spirit Manifestations and summoning flying swords and magical treasures, seemingly on the verge of fighting. Yet, there was one person who still sat leisurely in his chair, unhurriedly drinking wine. It was none other than Gu Qingfeng.
He sat tilted in the chair, leaning against the left armrest, legs crossed, head slightly tilted, brows lightly furrowed. His expression was placid, devoid of joy or sorrow, simply watching Tan Tong and the others.
He sat right there, precisely in the middle between the two sides, appearing utterly out of place amidst the murderous aura filling the hall.
His presence not only astonished Elder Fengxu and the others of the Mountain-River Branch Hall, but also greatly perplexed Tan Tong and the others of the Mingyu Branch Hall.
"Tan Tong, could you answer me a question?"